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Duka, Vukovic Face Uncertain Futures

By: Adam Jardy

The Columbus Dispatch - November 02, 2012 10:45 AM

Dilly Duka and Nemanja Vukovic are both waiting to see whether they will return to the Crew next
season.

After yesterday’s training session at the Crew’s facility in Obetz, both players said the club
holds options on them for next season but expressed uncertainty as to whether they will reprise
their roles for the Black and Gold.

“I don’t know, man,” Duka said when asked if he will be back. “You never know with this league.
Last year I thought some guys were here for sure and they left, so you never know. I’m going to
have a talk with the coaches at the end of the year and see where we’re both at.”

Duka said the Crew holds options on him for the next two or three years. Once his salary cap
number is established, Duka could also be a trade candidate as several teams in the league have
expressed interest in his talents. The Crew will conduct exit interviews with players next
week.

A Generation Adidas product who also spent most of last year’s offseason training with the
United States U-23 team, Duka was expected to assume a major role in the Crew’s offense this year
after scoring two goals at the tail end of the 2011 season. A hamstring injury suffered less than
10 minutes into the season opener set Duka back, and he struggled to find his footing with the
first team this season. In 20 games including 14 starts, Duka recorded two assists and no
goals.

Duka still described the year as productive.

“I think the more you’re in this league and at this level you learn and get better, whether it’s
not with stats or anything,” he said. “You become a stronger player, a more experienced player. I
think I learned a lot and I think every year I definitely should be improving. I think I improved a
lot.”

He also left the club for a weekend for what he described as “personal issues” before the Crew’s
road match against Chicago on Sept. 22. He returned the following week, but only played 32 minutes
in the final five games, partly due to injury.

Duka dressed for the season finale against Toronto but did not see action. He was replaced by
Ben Speas in the starting lineup, a Homegrown player who made his MLS debut, and did not see
action.

Asked about not seeing action against Toronto, Duka said he was more upset by only playing 26
minutes the week before in a road loss to D.C. United that eliminated the Crew from playoff
contention.

“I think it was tougher to play such little minutes at D.C., the most important game of the
year,” he said. “That was definitely tough because you want to go out there and help your guys. The
Toronto game, it was great to see Academy kids like Benny (Speas) go out there and shine because I
think he did really well. It was not that tough. It was just more of a let’s end strong and see
what we’ve got next year.”

The left-footed Vukovic joined the team early in the season after winning a roster spot as a
trialist. He seemed ready to inherit the Crew’s left back spot after Shaun Francis was cut, but he
lost his grip on the position and gave way to Josh Williams, who played out of position for much of
the season.

Vukovic said his contract is for three years but only the first was guaranteed.

“I like Columbus and I like the players,” he said. “Next season, I don’t know. I have options to
go or stay. You never know. Coach might say, ‘I don’t need Netzo. He can leave.’ It’s football. I
will see. I will go home and see with my agent. Maybe I stay here in Columbus or in MLS. I don’t
know. Maybe I go back to Europe. I’ll see my options when I talk with my agent.”

During the season, head coach Robert Warzycha told me that Williams earned the spot over Vukovic
because of “responsibility.” Vukovic said he did not understand why he lost the spot.

Asked where the coaches told him they needed to see improvement, Vukovic said, “I have no clue.
I talked to him, but I don’t agree with him. I think of the games I played, and I think I played
good and I did some good stuff for the Crew. I had three assists and many good things, I think. I
talked with him and he said I must do this and this. I tried, but when I do it how he wants it’s
not good because I do it like before. Every time is different. I don’t know.”

In 15 games including 12 starts, Vukovic recorded three assists. He was also slowed by an ankle
injury that sidelined him for more than a month.

“I think I played good, but then I had the problem with my ankle and I had to rest for a few
weeks,” he said. “I came back, but then I didn’t play again. I wasn’t happy with that. Like
everybody else, when you don’t play, you’re not happy. Now the season is over, I don’t know. I like
Columbus. I like everyone here and guys like Mike (Lapper) and Brian Bliss and Mark (McCullers).
Everyone who is here is good people.”